The ACTA trade negotiations are scheduled for 29 to 31 July 2008 in Washington DC.

In 2007 a select handful of the wealthiest countries began a treaty-making process to create a new global standard for copyright, trademark and patent enforcement, which was called, in a piece of brilliant marketing, the "Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement".

ACTA is spearheaded by the United States along with the European Commission, Japan, and Switzerland — which have large copyright and patent industries. Other anglo nations, such as Canada, Australia and New Zealand have been invited. Noticeably absent from ACTA’s negotiations are leaders from developing countries who hold national policy priorities that differ from the international copyright and patent industry.

This document is the ACTA negotiating brief dated July 29, 2008, provided by the copyright/patent/trademark industry to negotiating countries; pages concerning customs enforcement and civil enforcement.

Under customs enforcement for example it proposes:

Increased inspection of goods to detect potential shipments

Customs to provide rights holders all relevant information for the purposes of their own private investigations and court action they are to be given a minimum of 20 working days to commence such actions.

Seized counterfeit goods are to be destroyed or disposed at the rights holders pleasure. Removing a trademark will not cut it.

Under civil enforcement rights holders will have more say on the damages involved as well as more compensation to cover their legal enforcement costs including "reasonable attorney's fees";.

Rights holders to get the right to obtain information regarding an infringer, their identities, means of production or distribution and relevant third parties.

The exact composition of the business "side" is not publicly known, which reflects the systemic lack of transparency surrounding ACTA negotiations. Whether trade representatives can be forced to reveal the make-up to the press or policy groups remains to be seen.

Customs to provide rights holders all relevant information for the purposes of their own private investigations and court action they are to be given a minimum of 20 working days to commence such actions.

Seized counterfeit goods are to be destroyed or disposed at the rights holders pleasure. Removing a trademark will not cut it.

Under civil enforcement rights holders will have more say on the damages involved as well as more compensation to cover their legal enforcement costs including "reasonable attorney's fees".

rights holders to get the right to obtain information regarding an infringer, their identities, means of production or distribution and relevant third parties.

3. Relevancy? Relevant to the broader IP community and the general public interested in understanding the shifting balance between rights holders and the public interest.

5. Why leaked?. To shed light on a very secretive treaty that is being rushed to conclusion for the end of the year. There are good reasons to improve anti-counterfeiting measures, but this document suggests it has become broadened to favor and entrench rights holders to the exclusion of other civil rights such as privacy and fair judgment on relevant costs and fees normally determined by a competent judge.

6. Urgency? Yes the ACTA negotiations are scheduled for 29 to 31 July in Washington DC. It would be helpful to shed light on what proposals are being considered by various governments including US, Japan, EU etc.. Certainly the public have a right to know.